Arizona Cardinals Defense: Stifling the Saints Air-Attack

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; The Arizona Cardinals enter week three with the third ranked run defense. This will come in handy when they face the Saints this week and their poor run offense. The Cardinals did well in containing the Lions backs and benefited ...

The Arizona Cardinals enter week three with the third ranked run defense. This will come in handy when they face the Saints this week and their poor run offense. The Cardinals did well in containing the Lions backs and benefited from a Reggie Bush injury. None of the Saints backs are as dangerous as Reggie Bush and they seem to be having scheme issues regarding their run game.

All of the pressure will be on the secondary and front four who need to continue to apply pressure on the quarterback which will increase the likelihood he makes a mistake. Patrick Peterson did very well against Calvin Johnson regardless of what the stat box says. Touchdown one was almost intercepted and a product of great talent. The second was well schemed and executed. At no time did any defender get “burnt”.

The front four made leaps and bounds from week one as far as pressure even if it only amounted to one sack and a fumble both by the MVP of the front four Calias Campbell. We saw John Abraham more and he got his paws on the quarterback a few more times. He is vital this week again for his presence on the field and now for his knowledge of the Saints as he played against them the past 4 years.

The secondary had double duty helping containing the backfield and receivers of Detroit. The front seven will be responsible for handing the Saints another week of run game frustration. This lack of production will force Drew Brees to throw for first downs and scores. The Saints have lived and died by the passing game the last four seasons which makes them priority number one for the Cardinals secondary.

Patrick Peterson will have an easier task smothering Marques Colston. He will have to stay attentive when Drew Brees has no choice but to take a shot to his safety blanket. The wild card this week is who will be assigned to Jimmy Graham who has 2 scores and over 200 yards receiving after 2 games. Tyrann Mathieu is a monster on the field thus far but lacks the size to consistently track with Graham.

A nice surprise other than the heroics of Mathieu in weeks one and two was the emergence of fellow rookie Tony Jefferson at strong safety. He may be able to slow down Graham’s production considering his size, athleticism and talent he faced at Oklahoma. The linebacking corps should help whoever is assigned to Graham by chipping him as he comes through their zone. The best way to frustrate an athletic tight end is to put obstacles in his route.

Just like last week against Detroit, the Saints have a lot of firepower to contend with but if the Cardinals can repress, not allow the full expression of or stifle the air attack that Brees loves to unleash; the Cardinals will have a good chance at “scratching” out a win on the road which coach Arians wisely stated is a goal this season.

Here is where you can let your lights shine...... I'll ask a question... You hear anything about Lance Moore, Kenny Stills, Robert Meacham in that there synopsis.... What they don't know will hurt them!!!

It's not bad (the article) from an Arizona Cardinal point-of-view and somewhat accurate ... as pointed out, doesn't take into account a few of the Saints offensive weapons and gives too much credit to the Cardinal defense for stopping the Lions run game. It's also not taking into account the game is going to be played in the Dome, which is going to be a huge motivating factor for the Saints.

If the Saints were gonna' lose one early in the season, I'd almost say it would be this one after going 2-0 on a couple close ones, but it's a home game and while the Cards do have some tricks up their sleeves, they just don't have the juice on the road. .

One of the things that hasn't been mentioned very much as a factor in our recent struggles is the coaching. Sean Payton seems a bit rusty in his play calling and also doesn't seem to trust what facts and statistics are telling him. Doesn't Sean Payton realize that Pierre Thomas (and Darren Sproles for that matter) are getting way more yards per carry than Mark Ingram?

I mean it's glaring isn't it? I just don't get it. Every once in a while I think Sean Payton can be a bit stubborn. How many times does he want Brees to hand off to Mark Ingram before he realizes it's just not happening.

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Right?

One of the things that hasn't been mentioned very much as a factor in our recent struggles is the coaching. Sean Payton seems a bit rusty in his play calling and also doesn't seem to trust what facts and statistics are telling him. Doesn't Sean Payton realize that Pierre Thomas (and Darren Sproles for that matter) are getting way more yards per carry than Mark Ingram?

I mean it's glaring isn't it? I just don't get it. Every once in a while I think Sean Payton can be a bit stubborn. How many times does he want Brees to hand off to Mark Ingram before he realizes it's just not happening.

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Right?

No thats not the definition. Its a common misconception that it is, but its really just a saying.